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One terrific and two okay movies (plus one piece of annoying garbage) new at the movies, this weekend:

* “Lone Survivor“: This is tied for my best movie of 2013 (see my complete list of best movies of 2013 and 2012). If you want to see patriotism along with the essence of what makes America great AND what makes America weak, this is it. Whether a proud American for a strong national defense or an anti-war ninny, every American needs to see this movie. It’s a great encapsulation of what those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces risk and ultimately sacrifice. More important, it’s a fantastic portrayal of what happens when our brave men are hamstrung by one-sided Geneva Accords and useless “human rights” rules that will eventually–as in this movie–get them killed. Rules that only they obey. And it shows how the fear of courts martial and negative coverage on CNN (the network is specifically called out by name) cause soldiers to take actions that will only save Islamic terrorists and take more American lives.

As you probably know by now, this is the movie based on the true life story of Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor among several Navy SEALs, sent to hunt down Taliban terrorist leader, Mohammad Ismail alias Ahmad Shah, in the mountains of Afghanistan. The SEALs saw their target but didn’t have the kind of guns with the range to take him out (that was the part I did not get, and it is not explained in the movie). While they were in hiding in the mountains, Afghan shepherds sympathetic to the Taliban happened to take their herd there for grazing and found the SEALs. The SEALs had three choices: kill the shepherds (which is what they should have done but could not given the rules hamstringing them and their fears about courts martial and negative media coverage); tie the shepherds to trees and let them be eaten by animals and die, or set them free. Incredibly, they felt the only choice–because of the media and military trial consequences–was to set them free. Stupid. NOT how you win a war. It’s how you risk American lives.

And as the title of this movie indicates, there is only one survivor among those who went on that mission, known as “Operation Red Wings.” As is predictable, the Taliban come to the mountain, surround the SEALs and outgun them, killing all but Luttrell (played by Mark Wahlberg). But while they fight it out, there are other questions: why did the radio/satellite equipment not work? They were mostly unable to communicate with the SEALs commander back at the base. Also, how did it happen that one or two whole military helicopters filled with SEALs that came to rescue them were shot down with SAMs so easily. Who gave their plans and positions away to the Muslims?

The end of the movie is touching. First, we are shown the one rare Muslim willing to risk his life and those of his family members to save Luttrell. Remember, this guy is the exception to the rule. More stirring (it brought tears to my eyes) are the real life photos of the SEALs and other American military men who were murdered by the Muslims in this operation and the rescue attempts. For many of them, the pictures show weddings, engagements, children–family members who lost their men way too early, while we continue to try to help Afghans who hate us build roads and other stuff. Their lives meant something, and it is a shame they lost those lives to a war that was never fought with any intention of winning or doing anything in America’s interest. “Democracy” in Afghanistan and roads and candy are not in America’s interest. Taking out our enemies, installing pro-U.S. dictators, and showing them who’s boss–that’s in America’s interest (and in the interest of Middle East stability), but we’re too busy appeasing and following Geneva Accords that terrorists couldn’t give a crap about.

When I screened this movie 1.5 months ago, a friend who saw it with me said he felt that Luttrell–as portrayed in the movie–was not heroic, because he was the one who outvoted the other SEALs (and was their commander), deciding to the let the Tali shepherds go. The other SEALs wanted to kill or tie them up. My friend feels Luttrell got the others killed with his decision. Is my friend right? I don’t choose to judge this decision harshly because I wasn’t there in the heat of war, forced to operate under unfair, one-sided rules I didn’t make. I think Luttrell’s actions and behavior aside from this were heroic and he got the Navy Cross for it.

One necessary aside: much has been made about star Wahlberg’s attack on Tom Cruise. During publicity for this movie, Wahlberg mocked Cruise’s statement in a lawsuit deposition that he views his acting as if it is military service in war. Yes, Cruise’s statement was absurd. But Wahlberg needs to look in the mirror. After all, this is the same schmuck who said that those on the 9/11 planes (including Danny Lewin of Israel’s elite Sayeret Matkal) were wimps and that he would have kicked the terrorists’ butt. Sure, you would have Marky Mark. Uh-huh. Remember, this former underwear model seems to only beat up (and try to kill) innocent Vietnamese store owners he’s robbing and take out their eyes with a meat hook (Wahlberg did that, was charged with attempted murder, and was sent to prison).

There is a big difference between playing a hero and actually being one. Neither Tom Cruise NOR Wahlberg seems to get that. Marcus Luttrell does but is very modest in his interviews that I’ve seen. He does, however, make two cameo appearances in the movie, playing another SEAL and has a couple of lines.

BTW, this isn’t for kids. It’s violent and bloody, and the good guys are mostly murdered. Plus, I could have done without the lewd speech given by one of the new SEALs at the beginning of the movie, but I know that’s how military guys talk when they are amongst themselves. So be it. Doesn’t take away from the movie.

FOUR REAGANS

Watch the trailer . . .

* “Her“: I had mixed feelings about this. It’s very weird and different. I like weird and different . . . usually. But this kinda creeped me out. It’s like an R-rated version of “The Twilight Zone,” minus the class. The main character, Theodore (played by Joaquin Phoenix, is incredibly creepy. I like futuristic sci-fi–which this is in spades–and it’s an interesting social commentary on how we are out of touch with the real world when we become so connected and addicted to technology, including computers, smart phones, and so on. That message has been done before in other movies I’ve reviewed on this site. But I found this interesting. The movie is written and directed by Spike Jonze a/k/a Adam Spiegel.

The scariest thing I learned about the future from this movie (other than that people ghost write love letters for other people and that they become addicted to artificial intelligence) is that all the men wear tremendously unflattering Sansabelt pants (the kind that only looked acceptable on Rodney Dangerfield and Jack Nicklaus).

The story: Theodore is a lonely, very nerdy guy (who lives in an awesome apartment) in the future. I think it’s supposed to be post-modern Los Angeles, but looks like Tokyo, given the architecture. He works at BeautifullyHandwrittenLetters.com as a ghost-writer composing love letters back and forth between a couple. He has a very funny, smart alecky friend, played by Chris Pratt (he’s the best part of this movie) and a friend/neighbor, played by Amy Adams. He is about to be divorced and is urged by his friends to go out and date.

But, soon, he gets a new operating system for his computer/phone/other gadgets. She’s voiced by Scarlett Johansson. She reorganizes his e-mail, deletes things that aren’t necessary and otherwise organizes his technological life. But she reads all of his e-mails and starts to become intimately familiar with him. And he is falling for her. They have this weird, creepy phone sex, and “go on dates,” with Theodore going on a picnic with Pratt, Pratt’s girlfriend, and a picnic blanket with the operating system turned on. Weird. And also hilarious in a way.

Theodore’s strange “love affair” with his operating system keeps him from having a real relationship. His ex-wife says it’s no wonder he’s “dating” his operating system because he’s incapable of a relationship with a real woman. He goes on a blind date with Olivia Wilde and messes it up because nothing compares to this operating system. Imagine being in love with Siri from the iPhone. That’s what this is.

While Theodore is embarrassed to admit he has a romantic relationship with his operating system, he soon realizes that everyone is having such a relationship, and likely with the same operating system. She admits she’s having several such relationships, and he sees (Sansabelted) guy after guy coming out from the subway flirting with his iPhone. He soon learns his neighbor, Adams, has broken up with her human boyfriend and is bragging about “dating” her operating system.

The movie has its funny moments and sharply ridicules most of these people, but it tried to make us sympathize with and feel bad for Theodore and his creepy affair with Ms. Electronica, which bothered me. It is as ridiculous as the similar relationships everyone else in the movie has with their “humanized” gadgets.

It’s an interesting take on a current topic. And it’s definitely not for kids because it’s loaded with sexual imagery and foul language, which weren’t all necessary and definitely take away from the film.

ONE-AND-A-HALF REAGANS

Watch the trailer . . .

* “August: Osage County“: Oy-ya-yoy. I couldn’t take this slow, boring, pointless hag-fest starring the repellent Julia Roberts (playing her bitter self) and Meryl Streep, playing some crazed old woman. Oh, and then there’s the charming plot line of a woman having a sexual affair with a guy she believes is her first cousin, but turns out to be her brother. Fabulous. This was long and boring, and I struggled to get through the screener. When I was finished, I felt robbed by the time bandit. Two hours of my life wasted–two hours which I ain’t never gonna get back.

The “story”: Meryl Streep is the drug-addled, sickly matriarch of a dysfunctional Oklahoma family. When her husband disappears (and then his body is found and a funeral is held), her grown daughters are reunited with her (as are other family members–her sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and Streep’s daughters’ family members, boyfriends, etc.) Most of the story takes place at Streep’s dark country home, with all of the daughters arguing. One of the daughter’s boyfriends gives drugs to–and tries to have sex with–the underaged child of another daughter. One daughter declares she is dating, engaged to, and in love with her first cousin, whom we learn is her half brother. Let’s hear it for grrrl power!

There is no plot to this miserable, messed-up stream of consciousness. Figures that all the mainstream liberal movie critics just love this absolute dreck. The tagline of this movie is “Misery Loves Family.” Um, no. Misery is paying ten-plus bucks and sitting through this thing.

Skip at all cost.

FOUR MARXES PLUS FOUR BETTY FRIEDANS

Watch the trailer . . .

* “The Legend of Hercules“: Although slightly silly, very cliche, and entirely predictable, this telling of the story of Hercules was better than I expected. I could have done without the extremely laughable and absurd scene of Hercules’ mother having sex with something invisible, which is apparently supposed to be Zeus. But other than that, it’s basically your typical, banished illegitimate son comes back from slavery to take the kingdom from his evil stepfather and half brother and retakes his lady love. You get the point. I’m not a fan (at all) of Kellan Lutz (Miley Cyrus’ current boytoy), who plays Hercules. But the movie isn’t absolutely terrible. In fact, it’s okay and has lots of fighting and action scenes (it is far too violent and bloody for kids, in addition to the dumb sex scenes). There is good and the good vanquishes the bad and so on.

35 Responses

EVERYONE who goes to see “Lone Survivor” should read the book first. Its, BY FAR, THE BEST account of modern warfare I’ve read since reading Mark Bowden’s “Black Hawk Down” when I was 19 (I’m 34 now). This book brought me to tears. I also know that when Luttrell was pitching his book to the producers in Hollywood, he told them, “if you dishonor my brothers, I will KILL you.” He also told Glenn Beck (with whom he’s tight) when Beck asked him if they (Hollywood) got it right, Luttrell told Beck “its what I see in my nightmares every night.”

I would also recommend Luttrell’s other book, “Service.” Luttrells’s such a badass that he went to Iraq for a deployment after his s rehab from the injuries he sustained in Operation Redwings. This man is true American hero. And we should ALL be greatful that we have men like him defending us. G*d bless Marcus & the memories of his brothers who were lost on that I’ll fated mission!

having read the book I don’t care if I see the movie. It is an extreme good story but in my opinion poorly written.

worth reading for the story not the writing. also like many stories that come out of these debacles called the Iraq and Afghanistan wars I am dismayed at how badly planned and executed they are. I thought it was the muslims that specialized in suicide.

At the end of Lone Survivor, we saw the muzzie w Luttrell. I thought let’s not bring him here.

Well…

“In real life, Mohammad Gulab (pictured with Luttrell) has since moved out of the village because he and his family had become top Taliban targets. “They have a bounty on his head,” Luttrell says. “He’s been shot, his car’s been blown up, and his house has been burned down.” In addition, his cousin has been killed (60 Minutes). He has gone into hiding with his wife and ten children, but Marcus Luttrell and director Peter Berg fear that the film will bring renewed attention upon Gulab from the Taliban. They are currently working on obtaining asylum in the U.S. for Gulab and his family. In the years since Luttrell’s rescue, Gulab has made several trips to the U.S. to spend time with his friend, whose life he saved.”

Just what we need… Him, his wives, and ten kid. NOT! There must be other places like a muzzie country. ????

And there’s #2. This isn’t two strikes against it either. This means it’s out twice… Can’t stand either of those skeezes. Though I’ll admit I’m amazed that something with both of those poisoning it could still somehow be good enough to manage Reagans.

I can attest of what Debbie mentioned that our troops having to worry about “war crimes” and JAG prosecutions when fighting a war. A lot of these “rules of engagement” were mostly drawn up by people who if ever shot a gun it was when they were kids using toy cap guns. This is why the US has duck ups like the Beirut bombing of the Marine Barracks, the USS Cole, etc. The US government is so worried about what other countries think about us that the same bastards that send our guys in harm’s way also restricting them in coming back alive.

I am curious what Debbie said about how the communication equipment not working and the Taliban just happen to be waiting in an ambush on our guys. This clearly has signs of an inside job by our “allies” that probably cared more of tribal loyalty than what ever Karzai says. Hell, I think Karzai is part of the problem in playing us and the Taliban.

“Lone Survivor” was absolutely horrid. It was a 100-minute commercial for Marky Mark and he’s the worst actor of the bunch. Not sure how it’s anything about bravery or heroism, either. The four-man squad gets picked off one-by-one by the muslims and lots of scenes of the marines tumbling down hillsides. Pure trash until Marky Mark’s tour de force 45-minute final scenes where he is the only remaining marine alive and, of course as is befitting to a star of his caliber, he solely survives.

I felt hoodwinked having wasted 45 minutes (fast-forwarded through much) of my life watching this rotten, lice-infested tripe.

A couple of quibbles. First off they were SEALs, not Marines. Secondly, while you may not dig the fact that they were “picked off one by one,” that’s what happened. Not trying to be a schmuck about it, just saying.

I’m certain that when I go see this movie, I’ll find all kinds of inconsistencies with it as opposed to Luttrell’s book.

Cicero: No offense taken. I just really despise Mark Wahlberg and didn’t think the story was compelling at all, based in truth or not.

From the kill-ratio standpoint shown in the movie, the SEALS did a good job, but they were retreating for the duration of the movie being chased by an overwhelming pack of muslims until they were all dead or nearly dead. I’m not sure why they picked this particular story to make into a movie and am clueless as to why it’s being lavished with praise by critics.

Aside from Wahlberg being pathetically long in the tooth to be portraying a young, enlisted Navy SEAL, none of the other performances were noteworthy: a lot of moaning and dragging their injured legs from being injured by gunshot wounds.

Now, “We Were Soldiers” *that* was a very good war movie. It had story, acting and plenty of pathos.

I don’t know why Marky-Mark has never bothered me, but he just doesn’t. I get what you’re saying, though. As far as Luttrell’s story, I think its emblematic of the way SEALs train & fight. Having met a few Vietnam era SEALs who were buddies of my Dad’s, I can remember tears welling up in my eyes at many points in the book. Which, to me, is no less sad than debacle in Mogadishu described by Mark Bowden in “Black Hawk Down.” To me, the fact that Luttrell lived to tell the tale of his brave brothers is the essence of the story.

I read “We Were Soldiers…” & also saw the movie. Other than drunken Jew hater, Sugar Tits Mel Gibson’s off screen antics, I thought the movie did justice & honor to those brave men of the Air Cav who died in the Ia Drang Valley, as well as the memories of ALL those who made the ultimate sacrifice in that piss-poorly run war. The 1st time I ever saw my Dad cry was when I was 11 & we went to the Vietnam War Memorial. He found the names of a couple of his shipmates who flew off Saratoga & never returned. I’ll never forget him turning to me with tears in his eyes & saying, “Sonny Boy, its a damned shame they didn’t build this thing to face Congress.” The same can be said about the feckless douchebags who denied armor & air support in Somalia & who came up with the suicidal ROE’s in Afghanistan that lead to the tragedy of Operation Redwings.

A very important correction to who your friend thinks was in charge of the SEAL Team. It was actually led by Lt Michael Murphy, who earned the Medal of Honor for his satellite phone call under open enemy fire to notify the base of the peril he and his men were in. Marcus Luttrell was an enlisted man and not in charge of the Team.

The book Lone Survivor was excellent, as well as Luttrell’s follow up book, Service. We have so much to be thankful for to our servicemen, especially so those that serve in SPECOPS.

Personally I would have rather seen Donnie Wahlberg in the role, I thought he was superb in his portrayal of Sgt Carwood Lipton in Band of Brothers. He is very pro law enforcement and military, his two seasons of Boston’s Finest were well done.

Still, even with Marky Mark in the lead role for this film, I will go see it.

RE Murph The Protector. Just watched it last night. It is a compilation of interviews and remembrances of Mike Murphy’s family and friends, designed to give a view into who he was. It is not a documentary on Operation Red Wings which is only briefly discussed and then not in any technical detail, but from the perspective of those who watched open source reporting on CNN.

If I were in charge of the world, I would make it a law that no Hollywood personality, no matter how good an actor, could star in or have a role in any movie that portrays people holding and/or using guns. An exception to that rule is if they clearly played the role of a rapist, murderer, islamic filth terrorist, pederast or any of a number of assorted criminal trash. The same would apply to any Hollywood convicted criminals.

Lutrell was NOT the team’s commander – your friend has no clue as to military chain of command. Lutrell and the other two are/were enlisted; Murphy was an officer – Navy Lt. (Grade O-3). He was the team commander and the one making the decision NOT to kill the shepherds. They even said it’s not a vote. I’ve seen interviews with Lutrell where he discussed that specific item.

They did not take long-range sniper rifles with them because of weight. The type of rifle needed weighs substantially more than the ones they carried.

As to why they knew the choppers were coming, if you recall Murphy was using a non-secure satellite phone because the comms had failed. Those Taliban probably had scanning equipment and picked up the call. This is all military strategy and shortfall. They knew they were talking unsecured and risked being found out.

Murphy did what he did to try and save his men. That is why he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

RE the Satellite Phones in Lone Survivor. SATCOMS are “line of sight”, meaning, they must have a direct line, unimpeded by terrain between the hand held unit and the communication satellite overhead. In the very steep, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan, there are blind spots due to terrain. LT Murphy knew with certainty his group did not have the ammo or manpower to outlast the opposition. Their only hope of survival was airlift/reinforcement. He also knew he would likely be killed taking an exposed position to hit the satellite. His MOH was awarded for this selfless act of heroism.

The helo was taken out by a rocket propelled grenade (point and shoot, no guidance system). It was not an ambush. No one fed information to the Taliban (however, this is markedly different than the Nov 2011 ambush of Extortion 17 CH-47, where the information was fed to the Taliban-the payback, quid pro quo for bin Laden takedown). The helo was necessarily headed to the fire fight in order to support/extract the four men in combat. Any aircraft landing in a fire fight expects to take significant incoming fire. The courage of those on the helo cannot be overstated, nor can the incompetence of those making our Rules of Engagement.

I agree with your comment in total. I read ML’s book when it first came out and re-read it again last year and also his 2nd book. I used to read The Danger Room site on Wired prior to all four of the national security blog’s founder and core contributors exiting in early June 2013. I remember reading many posted comments by ML around the fall of 2012 when the movie was in post production. I have been excited since then to see this film. He is a truly amazing man, as were Michael Murphy and the others that died that day.

…’Her’ is apparently a movie-length Hollywood-rip-off of an older episode of the CBS comedy show ‘The Big Bang Theory’ wherein the extremely shy and nerdy Indian astrophysicist gets a new iPhone with Siri, and then starts going on dates with his phone (Siri), while his slightly less nerdy pals watch in disgust…

Lone Survivor is a great movie.
Everybody wants an easy win but this story is about what happens when you don’t get one.
I’ve never really been a Mark Wahlberg fan but I thought he was good in this and can’t fault the movie.
One of the better War films I’ve seen.
The action is relentless an uncompromising which is exactly the situation these guys found themselves in and the film did a great job of conveying it.

Why do you rate movies with Reagans? Reagan was good on foreign policy, but when it came to domestic policy, I consider him a failure. His tax bill signing actually raised taxes for most if not all the lower middle class. He was extremely soft on illegal immigration as Governor of California (he treated them better than his own California citizens) and as President. He is one of the main reasons we’re in this immigration mess we’re in now. So all you Conservatives who fawn over this guy, should embrace Barry Goldwater instead.

I see that concerning my prediction in Debbie’s coma thread of over a month ago of three of the movies that Debbie reviewed here, I see that I was spot on “August: Osage County“, and was right on “Her”, but was way wrong on “Lone Survivor”. On the last movie I had incorrectly predicted that Debbie hated it and gave it Four Marxes and Four bin Ladens, when it turned out that Debbie loved it and gave it Four Reagans.

I’m glad that I was wrong in my prediction. If I have to error, I would rather predict that Debbie hated a movie when in fact she loved it than to predict that Debbie loved a movie when she had in fact hated it. The main reason is because Hollywood, sadly, produces a lot more crappy movies than they do great ones. In any case, I will see “Lone Survivor” and “Her”. I might see “The Legend of Hercules” and will definitely skip “August: Osage County“.

Boy, did I HATE “Her.” Everything you said about that movie was spot on. The entire time I’m watching Phoenix, I’m thinking of Leonard from “The Big Bang Theory.” Underneath all the creepy behavior of Theodore is a decent, sci-fi story: what if we become so enamored with a compliant artificial life that we are happy to forego human contact? And society slowly begins to accept it as an “alternative lifestyle.” But Theodore is so creepy that you cannot reconcile someone so asocial with a person capable of writing heartfelt letters, having an accomplished wife, being found attractive by Olivia Wilde, or having a deep friendship with Amy Adams.

Debbie, surprised to hear you refer to The Twilight Zone as classy. Rod Serling was a rabid leftist and TTZ was mostly him preaching at his audience and telling Americans what racists and bigots they were. He also wrote the screenplay of the 1964 anti-military film ‘Seven Days in May’ and the pro Evolution ‘anti-war’ tract ‘Planet of the Apes’.

the olivia wilde scene, he was shown drinking excessively and so was wilde because they were trying to have a one night stand
that was the point of the hook up, they were trying to conform to society’s expectations,
the nerd was willing to go through with it, the woman wasn’t. the woman was his “reality check” when she called him creepy and left him

i think the movie just went over your head and i question your intelligence, why are people paying you to write this drivel?